KATHMANDU, MARCH 09
Just a few minutes after takeoff, a Dash 8Q 400 aircraft of Shree Airlines aborted the flight and made a safe emergency landing at Tribhuvan International Airport this morning after the pilot was alerted of fire in one of the engines.
According to Teknath Sitaula, spokesperson for TIA, an aircraft of Shree Airlines that took off from Kathmandu for Bhairahawa aborted the flight and made an emergency landing when the pilot noticed the right engine fire detector turn on.
"The aircraft had departed from TIA at 9:39am, but while flying over Dhading district, the pilot noticed the fire indicator of the right engine light up," Sitaula told The Himalayan Times, adding, "The pilot took immediate action to address the issue by shutting down the right engine, activating the fire suppression system and making an emergency landing at TIA at around 10:00am after communicating with the air traffic controller."
There were 78 people on board the plane, with registration number 9N-ANR.
Many passengers took to social media to describe their 'near death experience' or vent frustration at the 'negligence of the airline company for operating an aircraft with serious issues'.
Spokesperson for Shree Airlines Anil Manandhar informed that the aircraft returned as per the air safety protocol. He refuted the 'rumour' of the right engine catching fire during flight.
"It is likely there were some mechanical issues in the right engine. The pilot could have landed at Bhairahawa with a single engine, but as per safety protocol, the pilot diverted the aircraft back to TIA," Manandhar told THT.
Meanwhile, Jagannath Niraula, spokesperson for Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal said technicians from the airline company and CAAN were inspecting the grounded airliner.
CAAN has temporarily suspended engineers and aviation experts who had issued a certificate of airworthiness to the aircraft until further notice. "We have initiated thorough investigation and shall take necessary actions to ensure the safety of air travel in Nepal," Niraula informed.
A version of this article appears in the print on March 10, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
